Electromagnetic relay

Abstract

An electromagnetic relay includes a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact, a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact, a movable contact piece including first and second contacts, a drive device including a coil, a case, and a magnet. The case includes an accommodation space accommodating the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact piece, and a first arc extension space at least partially disposed between the coil and the magnet. The magnet is disposed so as to overlap with the coil in a third direction orthogonal to the moving direction and a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. The magnet configured to extend a first arc generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact and a second arc generated between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electromagnetic relay comprising:
 a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact; 
 a second fixed terminal disposed apart from the first fixed terminal, the second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact; 
 a movable contact piece including a first movable contact facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact facing the second fixed contact; 
 a drive device including a coil disposed in a first direction with respect to the movable contact piece, the first direction extending from the first movable contact toward the first fixed contact, the drive device configured to move the movable contact piece in a moving direction including the first direction and a second direction in which the first movable contact is separated from the first fixed contact; 
 a case including an accommodation space accommodating the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact piece; and 
 a magnet disposed to overlap with the coil and the accommodation space in a third direction orthogonal to the moving direction and a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, the magnet configured to extend a first arc generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact and a second arc generated between the second fixed contact and the second movable contact in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, 
 the case including a first arc extension space extending from the accommodation space in the first direction, the first arc extension space being at least partially disposed between the coil and the magnet. 
 
     
     
       2. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the case includes a base disposed below the coil, 
 the first fixed terminal includes a first external connecting portion protruding downward from the base, 
 the second fixed terminal includes a second external connecting portion protruding downward from the base, and 
 the first arc extension space of the case is disposed between the base and the coil. 
 
     
     
       3. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the magnet includes
 a narrow portion disposed between the first external connecting portion and the second external connecting portion, the narrow portion overlapping with the accommodation space in the third direction, and 
 a wide portion extending outward beyond the first external connecting portion and the second external connecting portion in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, the wide portion overlapping with the coil in the third direction. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the case includes a second arc extension space disposed outwardly adjacent to the first arc extension space in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, the second arc extension space partitioned from the first arc extension space, and 
 the magnet is disposed to overlap with the second arc extension space in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the case includes a second arc extension space disposed in the second direction with respect to the movable contact piece, and 
 the magnet is disposed to overlap with the second arc extension space in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       6. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first fixed terminal includes a first extending portion facing the movable contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, and 
 the first extending portion extends between the accommodation space and the second arc extension space. 
 
     
     
       7. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first fixed terminal further includes
 a first contact supporting portion configured to support the first fixed contact, the first contact supporting portion disposed in the accommodation space and extending in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece, and 
 a first bent portion bent toward the first arc extension space from an inner end of the first contact supporting portion in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The electromagnetic relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the case includes a cover member disposed between the first arc extension space and the coil, the cover member covering the first arc extension space.